Chief Justice Surya Kant warned that artificial intelligence could aid judicial research but could never replace a judge’s acumen, saying the decision‑making power must remain with the bench. He made the remarks at the plenary session of the 7th Congress of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Kant highlighted the Supreme Court’s Draft Regulations for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Courts, released in June 2026, which rest on the principle of human primacy. The regulations state that AI may supplement court processes yet cannot supplant the judgment of a judge. He urged that as reliance on data grows, safeguards must evolve accordingly, noting that the Fourth Initiative aims to protect vulnerable citizens and maintain public trust.
The chief justice also spoke on the digitisation of justice, stressing that technology must be anchored in constitutional guarantees of liberty, equality and access to justice. He cited the eCourts Mission Mode Project, launched in 2011, which enabled electronic filing, virtual hearings and live‑streaming of Constitution Bench proceedings. Between March 2020 and June 2024, the Supreme Court alone held more than 750,000 hearings via video conference.
Kant outlined several technology‑driven initiatives, including SUVAS, an AI‑assisted translation tool that has produced over 83,000 translations in 18 languages, and Su‑Sahayak, a chatbot that provides case status and e‑service guidance. He also described the “One Case, One Data” initiative, which integrates case information across courts to reduce duplication and delay. While praising progress, the CJI warned that challenges such as the digital divide, data security and algorithmic accountability remain and called for cooperation among Asian constitutional courts to address them.
